Plane Crashes

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 61, 4 December 1937, Page 4

Plane Crashes

l're83 association.)

PASSENGER KILLED Palmerston Machine Comes To Grief PILOT SLIGHTLY HURT

(By I'eiegrapb —

WELLINGTON, This Day. Diving from a height of between 100 and 20u feet after taking off from Rongotai airport, \ . ellington, early yesterday evening on the return journey to Palmerston North, the Manawaru and Middle Districts Aero Club's Moth aeroplaue ZK-ABV crashed on to a mound on a fairway almost opposite the club house on the Miramar golf links and was completely wrecked. The passenger, Mr R. L. Elliott^ was badly injured and ilied without regaining consciousness in the Wellington Publie Hospital soon after he was admitted. The pilot, Mr W. Smillie, escaped with slight injuries and eevere shock. The la'ttcr was also admitted to, hospital, and last night liis condition was reported as satisfactory. Efficiency and promptness ivere .displayed by the auxiliary fire brigade staff attached to the airport. Within three minutes of the crash the eiigine was manned by the officer in charge of the airport, Mr C. W. Roots, the chief ground engineer, Mr H. B. Roberts, and another member of the staff, Mr S. Smith. When they arrived at the wreck flames were beginning to spread, but they were checked before any damage was done. The machine arrived from Palmerston North at 6.35 p.m.f piloted by Mr Elliott. He picked up Mr Smillie, who decided to pilot the plane home, and the machine took-off from Rongotai at 6.38 p.m. into a south-south-easterly wind. According to witnesses of the plane 's departure, the machine took a left-hand turn and flew down-wind for a tshort distanee. Then it appeared to" loso flying speed and, though from the ground i,t could be seen the pilot made an effort to keep control, the machine failed to respond and dived into the ground. Golfers Rush to Assist. There were several golfers on the course at the time and they rushed ,to assist the pilot, who could be seen slruggling to free, himself. The passenger, however, was rendercd unconscious by the impact, which so telescoped the fuselage of the plane that *the rear of the front seat of the cockpit was almost pushed against the engme. Mr Elliott was taken from the machine badly hurt and just as flames began to spread from the engine, which was saturated with petrol from the punctured fuel tank. The noise of the crash was loud enough to be hbard at Kilbirnie. The undercarriage was torn off, the central portion of the fuselage smashed and telescoped, and the wings torn from the struts. The instrument panel in each cockpit was broken to pieces, but the tail end of the plane was practically intact. The wreckage was later inspected by Mr J. M. Buckeridge, assistant-Con-troller of Civil Aviation, and other officers, and the machine was dismantled by carlight. The plane was about five years old. ~ Well-known Sportsman. Mr Elliott was the son of Mr and Mrs John Elliott, 22 Colombo street, Palmerston North, and waa in the employ of Johnston and Co., Ltd. He was educated at the Palmerston North Boys' High School and took a keen interest in all branches of sport, playing senior A cricket for Old Boys' Club, senior Rugby a f ew seasons ago for the United club, tennis for the Manawatu club, and golf for the Palmerston North club. At the latter sport this season he won the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup. His age was about 22 years and he Teceived his flying tuition wi,th the Middle Districts club and had about 90 hours to his credit. He was a pilot in the Civil Reserve and Tecently obtained his A licence. ' Mr Smillie is one of three sons of Mr and Mrs D. F. Smillie, well-known residents of Palmerston North. He is about 20 years of age and obtained his A licence with the Middle Districts club. He is at present training for his B licence. To hia credit stand . between 80 and 100 flying hours, as well as a good deal of cross-country experience. He is a Civil Reservist pilot. His two other brothers are also members of the aero club, and Mr Smillie, Ssen.., is a life member of the club. He was president of Milson Aerodrome (Inc.) before it was taken over by the Palmerston Norith' City Council,